Clean up mechanism

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to an improvement in an unloading system having a bucket wheel unloader and a backhoe-type cleanup device which can scoop the material into a position where it can be picked up by the rotating bucket wheel. The improvement consists of having the cleanup device vertically movable relative the bucket wheel and in providing a control means which will limit the maximum downward force which can be exerted by the cleanup device on the bottom of the barge.

United States Patent [72] Inventor lmre Adler 749,803 1/1904 Patterson (2l4/44AUX) Vernona,N.J. 2,945,351 7/1960 Westveer 214/138X [21] AppLNo. $6 ,925: 969 FOREIGN PATENTS [221 Filed 1 132 526 7 1962 o 19s 10 4s Patented Jan. 5, 1971 "many [73] Assignee Hewitt-Robins Incorporated Prmzary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Stamford, Conn. Assistant Examiner-Frank E. Werner continuation f application s Attorneys-John L. Shortley and John D. Boos 669,891, Sept. 22, 1967, now abandoned i i i [54] CLEANUPMECHANISM 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 214/14, ABSTRACT: This invention relates to an improvement in an 8/ 6, 'unloading system having a bucket wheel unloader and a [51] lnt.Cl B63b 27/00 backhoe-type cleanup device which can scoop the material [50] Field of Search 198/10, 36; into a position where it can be picked up by the rotating 214/10, 14, 44, 44A bucket wheel. The improvement consists of having the cleanup device vertically movable relative the bucket wheel [56] References cued and in providing a control means which will limit the max- UNITED TATE P TE imum downward force which can be exerted by the cleanup 611,167 9/ 1 898 Bodley 214/44(A)X de ice on the bottom of the barge.

2a J r-/ i 7 I! O PATENTEB JAN 5 I97| SHEET 1 BF 2 INVENTOR. IMRE ADLER PATENIED JAN 519m SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTOR. IMRE ADLER CLEAN UP MECHANISM This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 669,891, filed Sept. 22', 1967, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Unloading systems in which only a prime unloader is utilized have been known for some time. The prime unloader may be a drag line or grab bucket, bucket chain elevator or bucket wheel apparatus. With each of the known apparatus it is necessary to provide separate apparatus to collect material left behind by the prime unloader and either remove this material itself or position it for removal by the prime unloader in a separate cleanup operation. The separate cleanup operation materially increases the time required for unloading a facility since the capacity of the cleanup equipment is much smaller than that of the prime unloader. As a result, to increase unloading efficiency, the prime unloader may be allowed to scrape the bottom of the bin orbarge being emptied to minimize or eliminate the time required for cleanup. However, this method may damage the bottom of the facility being unloaded and sometimes requires that the facility be taken out of service for repairs. In addition, the prime unloaders cannot generally reach material residing in inaccessible places such as in corners or under shelves or under barge hatch covers and decks. The disadvantages of the known systems are materially reduced or eliminated with the system according to this invention as will appear hereinafter.

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION The above described problems are reduced by providing a backhoe-type cleanup mechanism which is employed in combination with a primary unloader such as a bucket wheel unloader. The cleanup device is vertically movable independently of the bucket wheel so as to enable the cleanup device to be raised and lowered without the necessity of moving the entire combination of cleanup mechanisms and primary unloader. Furthermore, a control means is coupled to the cleanup mechanism which limits the maximum downward force that the cleanup mechanism can apply to the bottom of the barge.

Accordingly, one object of the invention is to provide an improved cleanup mechanism for use in combination with a primary unloader.

A more particular object is to provide the combination cleanup mechanism and primary unloader wherein the cleanup mechanism is vertically movable independently of the primary unloader.

Still another object is to provide a control means in combination with a primary unloader and a cleanup mechanism which control means limits the maximum downward force which can be exerted by the cleanup mechanism.

The foregoing object and advantages, and additional objects, advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment of the system illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a schematic plan view of a barge maneuvering apparatus incorporating a barge unloader system according to this invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side elevational view of a bucket wheel barge unloading station incorporating a barge unloader system according to the invention.

FIG. 3 is a simplified side elevational view of a bucket wheel unloader adapted for discharging material from a barge and having the improved accessory according to the present invention shown in detail.

FIG. 4 is a partial side elevation similar to FIG. 3 showing a single cleanup accessory according to the invention in an operative position not shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an end elevation taken generally on line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a partial schematic side elevational view showing a takeup arrangement according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As indicated in FIG. 1, a plurality of barge-maneuvering winches A, B are arranged on a barge-unloading dock or pier for moving a barge l0 forward and back in the unloading station 11 relative to a bucket wheel unloader 20 which is fixed in position relative to the direction of movement of the barge, i.e., the bucket wheel does not move fore or aft of the barge. The wheel 20 is movable however in a vertical plane as well as transversely of the barge movement plane as will appear more clearly hereinafter. The barge 10 is coupled with the barge haul winches A, B by cable and sheave in any known or suitable manner. In FIG. 1 the double-headed arrows indicate the direction of .movement of the barge relative to the bucket wheel 20 as imparted and controlled by the winches and as sociated cable and sheaves. Longitudinal movement of the barge 10 is controlled by winch A which also controls the speed or rate of movement of the barge in the longitudinal direction. The winches A and B guide the barge initially into the unloading station and a barge unloading vise (not shown) engages the barge once it is in the unloading station'and maintain the desired transverse position of the barge with the assistance of the winches A and/or B as is known. It will be apparent from FIG. 2 that the bucket wheel 20 can be raised and lowered to compensate for changes in the tide by virtue of the winch system 15 and associated cables and tackle arranged in known manner for this purpose. The winch system 15 is also utilized to elevate the bucket wheel 20 during unloading passes and is therefore electrically coupled with suitable sensor means connected to limit switches associated with the bucket wheel for holding the digging wheel in the proper position for the first and second unloading passes required and to also compensate for the barge floating higher in the water because material has been removed.

The bucket wheel unloader 20 as seen in the drawing comprises a wheel having two rows of buckets 21 (FIG. 5) in which the buckets are aligned i.e. in FIGS. 3 and 4 the buckets of the second row are positioned behind the row of buckets nearest the observer. The upper part of the wheel is within the dust cover 23. The bucket wheel is supported on a carriage 22 for rotation in a clockwise direction and the carriage 22 is movable across the width of a barge on the bridge (not shown) which spans the'unloading slip. .Apparatus for rotating the bucket wheel and moving the carriage back and forth on a bridge is well known and as a result, is'not shown in the draw ing. However, it is noted that in the drawing the bucket wheel is shown suspended from a transversely movable railroad-type undercarriage frame structure 22 which is ranging below the carriage bed on a bridge (not shown). Material scooped up by each bucket is deposited on a bridge conveyor 24 via a hopper 25 which forms an integral part of the carriage, bucket wheel combination.

A cleanup mechanism or device 30 is located at each side of the bucket wheel i.e. fore and aft of the bucket wheel unloader 20. Each cleanup device comprises a cleanup means coupled to a vertically movable boom 35. The cleanup means can be, for example, a backhoe type which includes a blade element 31, which may be bifurcated as shown in FIG. 5, and which is pivotally connected to a lever arm 32 at 33, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Movement of the blade relative to the lever arm 32 is controlled by means of a conventional hydraulic actuating mechanism 34. The hydraulic cylinder portion of mechanism 34 is pivotally attached to the arm 32 and the end of piston rod 34a is pivotally connected with the blade 31. A bellcrank type of coupling between the blade 31 and piston rod 34a is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The lever arm 32 is pivotally attached to one end of a boom 35, and another hydraulic actuating mechanism 36 is connected to the lever arm in order to pivot the arm 32 about its pivot point 37. As indicated in the drawing, the cylinder portion of the mechanism 36 is pivotally con nected to the boom 35 and the end of piston rod thereof is pivotally attached to the arm 32 adjacent to the blade end of the arm.

The boom 35 is mounted on a conventional guide system, not shown, so that the boom can be adjusted vertically relative the position of the bucket wheel. A cable or equivalent flexible member 44 interconnects the boom and the piston rod 47A of an actuating mechanism 47 which will hereinafter be described in greater detail. The cable extends upwardly from the point where it is connected to the boom and is reeved over the top of pulley .45. The cable then extends downwardly to the point where it is connected to the end of rod 47A. The pulley 45 isrotatably mounted on the end of rod 46A of actuating means 46 which is, for example, a conventional hydraulically actuated piston device. it will be recognized that the actuating means 46 can raise or lower pulley 45 in order to thereby move the boom 35 and the entire cleanup device vertically relative the bucket wheel unloader.

The cable 44 and the actuating mechanism 47 combine to form a control means which limits the maximum downward force that can be exerted by the cleanup mechanism. The actuating mechanism 47 is, for example, a conventional hydraulically operated piston device which is capable of applying a constant predetermined downward force on the cable which, in turn, causes a predetermined upward force to be exerted on the boom of the cleanup device. This predetermined upward force is less than the downward force caused by the total weight of the cleanup device. It will be recognized, therefore, that the maximum effective downward force which can be exerted by the cleanup means is limited to the difference between the downward force caused by total weight of the cleanup device and the predetermined upward force applied to the boom. lf, for example, the total downward force of the cleanup device on the bottom of the barge was momentarily made greater than this maximum, then the predetermined downward force of the actuating mechanism would pull the cable downwardly until the predetermined upward force was again applied to the boom.

In operation, most of the stored material is normally unloaded from the barge by two or more unloading passes in which the barge is hauled through the unloading slip by the system of winches while the rotating bucket wheels of the primary unloader are located within the body of the barge, as shown in FIG. 2. The cleanup mechanism is employed to scoop out stored material located under overhangs, such as the stacked hatch covers shown in FIG. 4. This is accomplished by raising the cleanup mechanism, positioning the scraper blade over a section of the stored material and then lowering the cleanup mechanism to thereby allow the blade to slice through the stored material. The blade 31 is then actuated by the hydraulic means 34, 36 so as to pull the material into contact with the rotating bucket wheel. This procedure is then repeated so as to take another place of the stored material and pull it into contact with the rotating bucket wheel. This procedure is repeated until the material under the stacked hatch covers is unloaded.

A second use for the cleanup mechanism is for unloading the relatively thin layer of material remaining on the bottom of the barge after the main unloading passes. The scraper blades 31 can be located in the phantom-lined positions shown in HO. 3, so that they will act as plows when the barge is hauled through the unloading slip. Thus, if the barge is being hauled to the right, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 3, the right-hand scraper blade would be lowered into the phantom-lined position so that material on the bottom of the barge would be scraped into a pile in the path of the rotating bucket. if the barge is hauled in the reverse direction, the left-hand scraper blade shown in H0. 3 would be lowered into the phantomlined position. In this manner the material at the very bottom of the barge can be unloaded by the-bucket wheel of the prime unloader without the danger of having the rotating bucket wheel accidentally contact and damage the bottom of the barge.

lt will be apparent from the above description that this invention provides a cleanup mechanism for use in combination with a prime unloader such as a bucket wheel. By having the cleanup mechanism vertically movable independently of the frame which positions the bucket wheel, it ispossible to have a control means raise and lower the cleanup mechanism without changing the vertical position'of the bucket'wh'eel. Thus,"the hydraulic height adjusting means 4-6 may raise or lower the cleanup mechanism without the necessity of repositioning tiie bucket wheel. Furthermore, the Icable fM-a'nd actuating mechanism 47 make up a control means which is employed in the present invention to prevent the'cleanup mechanism from contacting the bottom of the barge with excessive force.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in lightof the above teachings. For example, the hydraulic mechanisms 34, 36, 46 and 47 have been described as part of the presently preferredernbodiment and it will be recognized that other devices, such as equivalent electromechanical devices, could also be employed. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than has been specifically described. 1

l. in a barge unloading system having the combination of a prime unloader means and a cleanup device, said prime unloader means being mounted for substantially vertical movement into and out of the material being unloaded, the improvement in said'cleanup device comprising:

a boom;

a cleanup means coupled to said boom;

means for mounting said boom on said prime unloader means for movement vertically relative thereto;

actuating means for moving said boom vertically relative to said prime unloader means; and control means applying a predetermined upward force to said boom in opposition to the downward force caused'by the total weight of said cleanup device, the predetermined upward force being less than the downward force so that the maximum effectivedownward force of the cleanup device is limited to the difference between the force caused by the total weight of the cleanup device and the predetermined upward force applied by said control means. 2. The improvement described in claim 1 wherein said control means comprises an actuating mechanism, a flexible member interconnecting the boom and said actuating mechanism, said actuating mechanism adapted to apply a constant predetermined force on said flexible member and thereby exert the predetermined upward force on said boom whereby the maximum effective downward force of the cleanup device is limited to the difference between the total weight of the cleanup device and the predetermined upward force applied to said boom.

3. The improvement described in claim.2 which is further characterized by a pulley coupled to said actuating means, said pulley being adapted to be moved vertically by said actuating means, said flexible member extending upwardly from the connection with said boom, over said pulley and down to the connection with said actuating mechanism.

4. A barge-unloading system comprising a prime unloader means and a cleanup device, said prime unloader means being mounted for substantially vertical movement into and out of the material being unloaded, said cleanup device comprising:

a boom;

a cleanup means mounted on said boom for moving material towards said prime unloader means, said boom being mounted on said prime unloader means for movement vertically relative thereto, said cleanup means comprising lever means pivotally connected at one end to said boom, means interconnecting said boom and said lever means for pivoting said lever lean means relative to said boom, a blade member pivotally connected to the other end of said lever means, and means interconnecting said blade is limited to the difference between the force caused by the total weight of said cleanup device and the predetermined upward force applied by said control means 6. A barge-unloading system as described in claim 4 for unloading barges wherein said system further includes a bargemaneuvering system for moving a barge that is being unloaded while said prime unloading means is elevating material out of the barge, said blade adapted to be positioned relative said prime unloader means such that material in the barge may be plowed into the path of said unloader means as the barge is moved by said barge-maneuvering system. 

1. In a barge unloading system having the combination of a prime unloader means and a cleanup device, said prime unloader means being mounted for substantially vertical movement into and out of the material being unloaded, the improvement in said cleanup device comprising: a boom; a cleanup means coupled to said boom; means for mounting said boom on said prime unloader means for movement vertically relative thereto; actuating means for moving said boom vertically relative to said prime unloader means; and control means applying a predetermined upward force to said boom in opposition to the downward force caused by the total weight of said cleanup device, the predetermined upward force being less than the downward force so that the maximum effective downward force of the cleanup device is limited to the difference between the force caused by the total weight of the cleanup device and the predetermined upward force applied by said control means.
 2. The improvement described in claim 1 wherein said control means comprises an actuating mechanism, a flexible member interconnecting the boom and said actuating mechanism, said actuating mechanism adapted to apply a constant predetermined force on said flexible member and thereby exert the predetermined upward force on said boom whereby the maximum effective downward force of the cleanup device is limited to the difference between the total weight of the cleanup device and the predetermined upward force applied to said boom.
 3. The improvement described in claim 2 which is further characterized by a pulley coupled to saId actuating means, said pulley being adapted to be moved vertically by said actuating means, said flexible member extending upwardly from the connection with said boom, over said pulley and down to the connection with said actuating mechanism.
 4. A barge-unloading system comprising a prime unloader means and a cleanup device, said prime unloader means being mounted for substantially vertical movement into and out of the material being unloaded, said cleanup device comprising: a boom; a cleanup means mounted on said boom for moving material towards said prime unloader means, said boom being mounted on said prime unloader means for movement vertically relative thereto, said cleanup means comprising lever means pivotally connected at one end to said boom, means interconnecting said boom and said lever means for pivoting said lever lean means relative to said boom, a blade member pivotally connected to the other end of said lever means, and means interconnecting said blade and said lever means for pivoting said blade relative to said lever means; actuating means for moving said boom vertically relative said prime unloader means; control means connected to said cleanup device for limiting the maximum downward force which can be exerted by said cleanup means.
 5. A barge-unloading system as described in claim 4 wherein said control means applies a predetermined upward force to said cleanup device, the predetermined upward force being less than the total weight of said cleanup device so that the maximum effective downward force of the cleanup device is limited to the difference between the force caused by the total weight of said cleanup device and the predetermined upward force applied by said control means.
 6. A barge-unloading system as described in claim 4 for unloading barges wherein said system further includes a barge-maneuvering system for moving a barge that is being unloaded while said prime unloading means is elevating material out of the barge, said blade adapted to be positioned relative said prime unloader means such that material in the barge may be plowed into the path of said unloader means as the barge is moved by said barge-maneuvering system. 